It was just a typical summer day in 1993, but for 12-year-old Sara Anne Wood, it would become a day synonymous with tragedy and heartbreak. On August 18, 1993, in the small town of Sauquoit, New York, Sara cycled off to Vacation Bible School, bright and full of life, her signature beaming smile radiant as she joyfully sang “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton. But when Sara failed to return home later that afternoon, concern quickly turned into panic for her family. Dusty Wood, her older brother, recalls the moment vividly: “The last time I saw her, she was singing. It was just a normal day, and then, it all changed.”
- Sara Anne Wood was abducted in 1993.
- Dusty Wood shares memories of his sister.
- Lewis Lent is convicted for killing children.
- Investigators continue to search for Sara's body.
- The Woods honor Sara through community events.
- Detectives suspect more victims connected to Lent.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, her family’s worry grew into fear. Dusty received an urgent call from his parents asking if he had seen Sara. When it became obvious she hadn’t returned, Dusty and his family set out searching, not knowing that their lives were about to be irrevocably altered.
A neighbor discovered Sara’s bicycle hidden in the bushes just down the road, prompting immediate calls to law enforcement. New York State Police Trooper Timothy Blaise arrived at the scene, only to find the community’s nightmare was just beginning. “It was like she just vanished. There were no signs, no witnesses,” Blaise reported, a sentiment echoed by Dusty as he described the frantic search that commenced late into that first night. “We were out in the woods, looking, hoping that she may have just fallen and lost her way.”
Over the following days, the search for Sara transformed into one of the largest efforts to locate a missing child at the time. Reporters flocked to the Wood family’s small church, which became a command center for the investigation. Dusty recalls, “The first night was the worst. There was hope, but it quickly turned to despair.” His parents, Bob and Frances Wood, became advocates for their daughter’s safe return, sharing her story widely in hopes that someone would have seen her. “I just want my daughter back,” Frances pleaded publicly, her voice laced with heartbreak.
The investigation’s intensity increased as authorities scoured the nearby woods and interviewed known sex offenders, ultimately focusing on a man named Lewis Lent. Lent, a quiet janitor with a troubling past and a disturbing propensity for violence, was linked to an attempted kidnapping of another girl, Becky Savarese, shortly after Sara’s disappearance. When police apprehended him, he was soon identified as a suspect in both cases.
As the investigation unfolded, the Wood family faced unimagined trials. After weeks of searching, in early January 1994, lent’s name surfaced again when investigators connected him to Sara’s case. Officer Blaise recalled the chilling moment they discovered incriminating evidence during the search of Lent’s vehicle: backpacks, duct tape, and a gun — tools of a predator. “It was like something out of a horror film,” he stated, revealing the dread that settled over the investigators.
Lent’s eventual confession about Sara Wood was horrifying but bore grim necessity for closure. By May 1994, he admitted to the kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder of Sara, yet he toyed with investigators, providing only vague details about her remains. As Trooper Blaise reflected, “It felt like a twisted game… something was terribly wrong in his head.”
Despite his confessions that painted a horrific picture of Sara’s fate, authorities struggled to locate her body. Investigators followed the leads lent provided, combing the heavy snow-covered forests of the Adirondacks, but their searches yielded nothing. Dusty, who was now a high school senior, took comfort in knowing that the police were pursuing every lead. “It felt like everyone was focused on finding my sister,” he expressed, embodying the lingering hope clashing with despair.
Despite extensive investigations and multiple visits to Lent in prison—where he continued to manipulate and withhold details—the search for Sara remained unresolved. Authorities maintained their commitment to uncovering the truth, asserting, “We will not stop looking for Sara. She deserves that.” Each year, Dusty participates in the “Ride for Missing Children,” an event to honor Sara’s memory and educate kids about safety. Dressed in Sara’s favorite turquoise and pink, he embraces the mission fueled by family love and communal support.
Unfortunately, as of 2023, Sara’s case remains open and unresolved, a testament to enduring pain for the Wood family. After decades, Dusty reflects with a defiant resolve, saying, “Every day, I’m less angry. I focus on positive things.” His unwavering hope symbolizes a longing echoed by many families still seeking closure for their loved ones.
The continued efforts by law enforcement to locate Sara’s body and possibly others believed to have fallen victim to Lent haunt many. While families search for answers, one truth remains: as Dusty expressed, “I am waiting for the day I see Sara in heaven.” With ongoing searches and community support, the hope for resolution endures, resonating deeply with those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.
